Environmental Assessment Process
The Project is being completed in accordance with MTO’s Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Transportation Facilities, 2000 (Class EA) as an approved Group ‘A’ project. Group ‘A’ projects represent new facilities. The Project builds upon the EA studies (Individual EA and Class EA) that were completed and approved for the New Highway 7 from the City of Kitchener to City of Guelph.
Previous Environmental Assessment Studies
As part of the Project, the following previous EA studies related to the replacement of the Frederick Street bridge were reviewed to understand past work completed by MTO and guide current detailed design work:
1997: Environmental Assessment Report, Highway 7 from Kitchener to Guelph. Documents the planning of the new 18 kilometer four-lane divided freeway extending from the Kitchener-Waterloo Expressway (Highway 85) in Kitchener easterly to the Hanlon Expressway (Highway 6) in Guelph. The planning of the project was conducted under the Individual EA process.
2004: Amendment to the Environmental Assessment Report, Highway 7 from Kitchener to Guelph. Documents the proposed changes to the 1997 EA Report, which was approved by the Minister of the Environment in March 2007
2012: Transportation Environmental Study Report (TESR), Highway 7 New from Kitchener to Guelph. Documents the proposed changes to the approved Individual EA based on an assessment of a Value Engineering (VE) Study carried out by MTO in 2007, which identified opportunities to improve the design, provide updates, and improve the overall value of the project. The TESR received environmental clearance in October 2012 allowing the Project to proceed to detailed design and construction.
Current Class EA Process
The following figure outlines the Class EA process being carried out for the current Frederick Street Bridge Replacement Detailed Design Project including key steps and planned notices to the public building on the previous EA studies.
Notices
To contact a member of the Project Team or to sign-up for the Project’s Mailing List visit the Contact Us section of the website.
The Design and Construction Report
In accordance with MTO’s Class EA, the Project will be documented in a Design and Construction Report (DCR). The DCR will include the following content:
Purpose of the DCR
Project Description
Recommended Plan
Consultation Process
Environmental Concerns and Mitigation Measures
Commitments to Further Work
Once the DCR is prepared and submitted, the Notice of DCR will be published, and mark the beginning of the 30-calendar day comment period. The comment period provides an opportunity for any interested party including the public to provide comments to the Project Team.
Environmental Conditions
The Project is situated within an urban area of the City of Kitchener with primarily residential and commercial land uses on the east side of Highway 7/85 and mostly light industrial and commercial uses on the west side of Highway 7/85, as illustrated on the following map. Trees, shrubs, and grasses are interspersed amongst the various land uses including adjacent to Highway 7/85 and ramps within MTO’s right-of-way. In addition, street trees are situated within the municipal boulevards along the roads and streets in the Project Area. An existing noise wall barrier is situated along the east side of Highway 7/85 with a sidewalk and the Henry Walser Funeral Home behind it.
Frederick Street includes sidewalks and cycling lanes on both side of the road which continue across the existing bridge. In addition, Grand River Transit provides bus service along Frederick Street. Frederick Street is an existing Regional Road classified as an planned transit corridor in the Region of Waterloo Official Plan.
Environmental Impacts and Mitigation
As part of the Ministry of Transportation’s (MTO’s) Class Environmental Assessment (EA) process, the environmental impacts of implementing a Project need to be identified along with appropriate mitigation measures. With this in mind, the following summarizes the anticipated environmental impacts and how they will be avoided and/or minimized by applying the proposed mitigation measures as part of carrying out the Project:
Natural Environment
Vegetation removal will be minimized and will be replaced, as appropriate.
Socio-Economic Environment
Area residents and business owners will be notified in advance of construction.
A Traffic Management Plan will be prepared and implemented to minimize the following anticipated impacts to local traffic and area access during construction:
Short term lane closures on Frederick Street, Edna Street and Ann Street to allow the relocation of the Bell Canada and Rogers Cable infrastructure
Closures of Ann Street, Fife Avenue and Becker Street to allow the relocation of the sanitary forcemain, municipal services and road reconstruction. Local access for residents to remain open during construction.
Closure of Frederick Street at the bridge to allow for the demolition of the existing bridge and construction of the new bridge
Closure of Highway 7/85 for approximately one day on a weekend to permit the demolition of the existing bridge
Closure of one northbound collector lane and one southbound collector lane on Highway 7/85 for the duration of construction
Cultural Resources
No archaeological resources have been identified in the Project area based on previous Archaeological Assessment studies. If any archaeological resources are discovered during the construction phase, mitigation measures will be undertaken (e.g., stopping work and contacting appropriate authorities).